Let's count all the WTFs in Season Five of The L Word

So what did everybody do Sunday night, now that the L Word's fifth season is over? Anybody get out of the house, or have somebody over for actual conversation? Maybe even about something other than the L Word?

Might be something to consider for next Sunday. You know, just to change things up a bit. But I know going through L withdrawal is no fun. Here's an excuse to go back and watch the episodes again: Let's try to spot all the WTFs.

You know what I mean. Lord knows we complain about the show's questionable plot  developments,  random personality shifts and issues with general continuity. We suffer writing that makes us go, "Huh?'' How often does the dialog and the plot stuff takes us right of the story and makes us wonder what the hell the powers at the L Word are thinking. Like, are they not following along as closely as we are?

I mentioned a couple of examples earlier.  There is Peggy Peabody telling Helena she is her sole heir, although in a previous season Helena establishes that she has siblings. WTF?

And there's the fact that Helena skips town after her stint in the slammer and then one fine day comes back to WeHo with no explanation about how she resolved her legal issues.

Also, wasn't it entirely out of character for Shane, who early on was established as the super-intuitive "Yoda" of the group, to be entirely clueless about Bette and Tina hooking back up? Shane woulda had their number. And, as much of a bad girl as she has always been, she has also always been incredibly loyal to her friends. Shane wouldn't have messed with Jenny's girlfriend. That just didn't ring true.

What about all the WTFs around Jodi's Bette-bashing multimedia art piece? And who did Alice turn into this year? Remember how many personality changes Tina had?

I' ll bet you guys have many more examples you can list right off the top of your heads. Plus, finding some beyond that will give you an excuse to watch your favorite episodes again.

So, come on, let's point them all out. We can even consider some of the WTFs of seasons past, if you like. Anything to pass the time without our favorite show. We had lots of fun finding the WTFs last year at the end of Season Four. Why not go another round? And yeah, even with the WTFS, we love the L Word. So what?

Comments

[btfan2]

Well here's a few to start:

Helena getting to the tarmac just as the Medavack lands. No how could she time that and how did she get a Copter pad on the roof of a hospital

Helena and Lover Cindy - did helena just dump dusty/rusty?? and now she has her very own Bitch??

How did Helena get all that legal mumbo-jumbo done so quickly for the Planet and Shebar??

I have tons more just a start!!

btfan2

[Gwen-elle]

Hey Lydia,

I think it would take less time, energy and space on this blog if rather than listing the WTFs that we made a list of what were not WTFs instead. To me, the whole season was a WTF. Just kidding (sorta).

Unfortunately, my memory ain't so good these days. Stress and aging are a b*tch! I've been amping up on the B vitamins, but looks like that ain't gonna quite get old neurons, neurotransmitters and other such brainstuff clicking sufficiently to recall the oh so many WTFs that plagued the season.

Now this is not a WTF that falls into the standard WTF category, but the thing that stands out for me (as small and as petty as it seems) is that watch that Jodi gave Bette as a birthday cum see ya later gift. I am sure it says a lot more about me and my own personality quirks than it does about the story/plot/character, but I just simply have not been able to accept as anywhere near plausible that an artist would give ANYBODY a dad blame watch. What artist has any conception of time? WHATSOVER! I literally still laugh about that characterization whenever I think about it, which thankfully is less and less often the further we get away from the episode that will go down in television history (at least my own fading recollection of television history) as the "Most Dissappointing Execution Ever of A Storyline That Never Should Have Been". Hyperbole? Perhaps.

With respect to Peggy P's reference to Helena as her only heir, we may have to let Ilene off on a technicality with that one. Checking the dictionary, a heir is not necessarily the same thing as a beneficiary. Peggy P. said that Helena was her only heir, not her only beneficiary. Perhaps Ms P. does not deem the other siblings capable of managing the "vast Peabody fortune". Now in no way do I believe that the writers, Ilene, or whoever was responsible for this WTF was making a distinction, but Mr. Webster does give them a bit of wiggle room on this one.

Anywhoo, that's it for me. It's that damn watch that I just can't seem to get pass . . .

[Sue]

Hi Lydia,

Here's a couple:

Why would Ivan sell her half of the Planet to DD without calling Kit first?

Why did the actor who plays Nina in Lez Girls, Gretchen Pickles, not know how to have sex with women at the beginning of 506 when, according to Tina, she is the only real out lesbian in the cast?

Why would Kit seriously consider shooting Dawn Denbo?

What happened to Helena's kids?

Why does Helena have a British accent when her mom doesn't?

I've got more but that'll do for now.

[Bev]

Shane does have a history of messing with Jenny's girl friends. In Season 2 Shane started messing with Jennie's girl friend, at the time, Carmen. Jennie was very hurt when she saw the tape of Shane and Carmen together.

[Shelly]

I don't mind the plot line WTFs as much as the minor continuity errors. It really pulls me out of a scene when I see something like what happened in the opening of Jodi's dinner party episode. Shane and Jodi are riding their bikes, talking, and Shane's sunglasses disappear and reappear on the front of her shirt. I suppose all shows have stuff like this--they only have a week to shoot this stuff--but still, nothing reminds me that this is "showbiz" more than things like that.

Oh, and to Sue: You mentioned some great WTFs. I, too, have been annoyed at how easily Helena's children were dismissed. But, as far as her accent goes, I believe the story is this: Peggy ran off with a "Brit" (this was explained in the last episode of S3, because Shane and Carmen's reverend was Peggy's ex-lover; all part of that "chart" business that season which brought us the great opera scene with Bette and Alice). She married this guy (Helena's father) in England, and Helena was brought up there. You know, in boarding schools and all of that...

Lydia, I love your column. Thanks! I don't know what I'll miss more, the show or all of us obsessing over it.

[pbroulette]

Here is my WTF- before the season began, Ilene was all over OurChart, sho.com and other sites talking about how season 5 was going to pick up a few weeks after season 4 ended. So, in the final episode of season 4, Bette is leaving for NY to get Jodi back. She mentions to Phyllis something about having a nice spring break. Well, here on the east coast, spring break is generally in the spring. (Maybe it's different in fictional California art schools-not really sure)
Anyway- in the first episode of season 5, we see Helena being arrested and in her mug shot (on the placard thing she is holding,) the date is January 18, 2008.

A few weeks later Ilene? You mean like 40? WTF??

[amy]

I really want to know where Jodi got the video and audio of bette.

Also why is bette talkin bout babies when they haven't even moved back in together

Also where did Papi go? They didn't even bother to write her out of the show. Plus at the end of 4 Kit and Angus was hangin out at the beach. Did they float off in the raft with Jenny and not make it back?

[Dutch/Juno]

Lydia-- thanks so much for throwing us withdrawing fans the lifeline of at least one more Blog!! Much appreciated!( And just one more request--at some point, could you/we explore the L Word's 'world of Anvils'? Before the Series started, none of us could recognize nor speak "Anvilese" with which it has been peppered--e.g. Bette's lecture to Alice on monogamy in S1--since then,Anvils have been great predictors of where s/ls would go, and might make for a fun column.)
But, back to the subject at hand. Kit's whole attitude about Bette-Jodi-Tina seemed pretty "WTF?" to me. First she's admonishing Bette not to hurt Jodi, and reminding her how she 'hated' Tina....next thing we know, she's singing TiBette praises. Another one:
in the exterior shot of Bette and Jodi walking to Bette's car (for the break-up that never ends discussion), check out the passersby. (same shot, different folks)

[Lydia Martin]

Hi Bev,

That's a good point about Shane and Carmen. Forgot about that one.

[lenb]

It really bugged me the WHOLE season that Shane never noticed what was going on between Bette and Tina. For one reason in particular: how hilarious was it when Shane realized Alice and Dana were in love with each other at that Asian restuarant? Her face, going back and forth between the two of them. Priceless... It would have been equally as funny if it happen with B&T.

Plus, it's not like Shane had a plotline this season. The first half of the season, Shane had too much sex. Then no sex. Then she helped Kit from DD/LC (If I were Shane's friends, I'd be really pissed at her about that. She didn't even apologize to them for making their lives a living hell this season).

[teacherK]

i think the biggest question is one that someone mentioned once earlier:
for her piece of "art", where did jodi get the video and audio of bette??

[Lydia Martin]

Hi Dutch,

I like the anvil idea. We could list a whole bunch of those, whether they were intentional anvils or not.

[Lydia Martin]

Hi Amy,

Don't know where Papi went, but I'm kind of glad she's gone. She was a cheesy stereotype. But speaking of Latinas, where did Carmen go? I mean, doesn't she still live in LA, and wouldn't somebody have run into her somewhere? Or, maybe I missed some big explanation about Carmen moving to Tijuana or something.

[Lydia Martin]

Sue, Shelly,

Good points all.

[Lydia Martin]

Btfan,

Totally true, what DID happen to Helena's kids. Almost forgot about them.

Gwen,

You're right about the watch. I thought the same thing. Like, huh? Talk about an unimaginative gift. I guess maybe Jodi was trying to come up with a gift that would have been a turn-on to Bette, even if it was not up her own alley. But it just didn't work for me. It was a nice watch, but not stylish or designy enough for Dean Porter.

It just seemed like a terribly unsexy gift from a famous artist to a notable contemporary art collector.

[Gwen-elle]

First, wanted to send a shoutout to Ella. Where's Ella? Are you there? Staying strong I hope!

Lydia,

Just indulge me one more time on this watch thing okay? I know we already discussed this after episode 11, but way before we got to episode 11, I had stopped paying attention to story (since there really wasn't one) and had begun to focus more on what the writers were doing and how. It was that focus and this blog, that kept me watching season 5. When this *watch thing* happened,it just short circuited the brain, left me with a mild case of OCD . . .

As you pointed out in episode 11's blog, Bette is a big-time art collector and Jodi is a big time artist. The writers have shown us this, along with the fact that Bette is moved by beauty. And so, it is reasonable to expect the characters' actions to be motivated by what we have been shown about them. In this case, Ilene's choice just made the Jodi character that much more unbelievable and the whole Jodi storyline that much more annoying.

But then maybe by this time Ilene, like the rest of us, had so given up on the Jodi character that she just wasn't paying attention to detail anymore (unlike some of the rest of us). Given that fact, she would not consider the gift of a watch to be far more congruous with what you'd give somebody after 35 years working at a crappy corporate job, not a lover. Nor would IC necessarily realize by this point that perhaps the only thing that some of us were willing to cling to, or belief we were willing to invest in Jodi was her artist's soul.

Then I had this thought: Ilene could have been revealing Jodi's character flaw to us and I was just too dense to get it; the flaw being that Jodi just didn't *get* who Bette was and thus one more reason why the relationship had to end.

But in all honesty, I realized sometime yesterday (now that I am more fully re-situated in left brain mode), that my hangup about the watch was really symbolic of my frustration and an unwillingness to concede and admit what I felt: that TLW season 5 had been a waste of time. But I am over that now. Sometimes, it takes a while to figure out what the right brain (symbols) are trying to get across to the left brain.

Funny, this blog is sorta like therapy . . .

I don't know how much longer you plan to continue with the blog now that the season is over, but could I make a request? Is there any chance that you could give us a rundown on / discussion of the pop and lesbian culture references used in TLW? Perhaps, you've already done an article on this? But it would be nice to blog on it: what the references were, how they furthered (or more likely did not further) the drama or reveal the characters, etc. Would surely be educational for me. Thanks.

[btfan2]

Can someone help me with this. Isn't Jodi being paid for her "art". If so doesn't she by law have to get some sorta ok before she can use the voice of another person especially without their knowledge??

I'm also pretty sure about the film too. Since it seems to have been done at least partly at Bette's home(WTF). Isn't there an expectation of privacy in your own dam house?? And since she didn't do the video or the voice doesn't she have to give creds to Maxi Pad and Tommy cringe since we're pretty sure they are the one's who helped.

Also can't Bette sue all their sorry asses on a mutiitude of charges?? Bette please stop groveling to these trolls!!

Then there's the whole Alice and the special invite where she had to sign a privacy statement to attend. And then outed the guy on the internet with pic's she took at that very same party(WTF!!!)

Oh I have lots more

btfan2

[Shelly]

My thoughts on the watch:

Pure product placement. The brass at Showtime got a good chuck of change from the TAG people, and had to work it in somewhere. Who else on the show would were a watch like that? Well, maybe Tina or Alice. But they already did a watch thing with Alice, and it would be just as weird for Bette to give Tina the watch for no reason. I actually think it's quite appropriate for Bette, but I also think its funny that she was wearing a watch throughout the episode. (Well, of course she already has one--several, I would imagine.) No, it's totally not the kind of gift Jodi would give Bette, and we can speculate about what the writers were trying to "tell" us, placed conspicuously as it is at the end of their breakup, but the fact remains: sometimes a watch is just a watch. And sometimes people make a lot of extra cash by showing it off to hoards of lesbians with expendable income.

[Lydia Martin]

Hi Btfan,

Totally true about Alice signing that confidentiality agreement. Why did they even bring that up if they were going to ignore it immediately? They set us up and then - nada.

And about the Jodi artwork. Total WTF. Just makes no sense she would have gotten the images and sound. I mean, one supposes she wasn't working on the Bette-bashing piece all along. Because she wasn't pissed at Bette until she found out about her cheating with Tina. And she found out about that on the camping trip - and then didn't see Bette for days afterwards. She didn't see her again until the breakup day. So when did she have time to set up hidden cameras? I still go back to the possibility that in those few days that she didn't see Bette after the camping trip, she was plotting her revenge.

So maybe she showed up at the Planet totally wired and carrying a hidden camera in her lapel or some such. (Maybe Max and Tom helped with that?)

But if that's what happened, Jodi is a sick f*ck, and the powers dumb f*cks for not explaining the situation at all.

[Lydia Martin]

Gwen,

I'm glad your left brain has reconciled with your right brain. The waste of time bit is inspired. And sure, I'll work on a post about the pop culture references. I'll bet some folks have even more examples than I do.

[Lydia Martin]

Shelly,

You are so right. That watch was just a clumsy attempt at product placement. They made very sure we saw the brand. They could have worked it in much better than they did.

[btfan2]

Shelly

You almost have to wonder about more then JUST the watch. I'm still dismayed about the whole Niki "thing", this can't be IC's NEW fair haired girl. What was the whole Niki down our throats all season all about?? Other then WTF - we have no screen time but; what the hell lets waste as much as possible anyway!!. Yes!! she's pretty. YES!! she has NO!! talent, no "it" factor, her character was almost as boring as Maxi Pad(ok!! ok!! no one is THAT boring- no slam to Daniel- but gessey, peasey Maxi Pad is just painful to watch; coupled with Tommy Cringe and you want to schedule a root canal to STOP the pain).

Anyway tlw or cbs must have had IC by the short hairs if not; my opinion of IC - well never mind.

You sit back and reflect on s5 and the story line(I know - what story line - we did get don't ask; don't tell) of each character - almost every one is a Giant WTF.

Yes we did get TiBette, sorta, kinda. IC had to make it cheap and ugly. If you really look at it there was no real story.

I'm still wondering - when Tina came to Bette's house to seduce her; how did she know Jodi was not there and wouldn't be there. She never seemed to know where Jodi was any other time?? And didn't she just recover so quickly from the "Are you in love with Jodi - Yes I am", head banger.
There was no hesitation on Tee's part - no concern that Bette would say NO. How did she get THERE so fast??? And the big, big question - when did they turn off the damm stove??

btfan2

[Lydia Martin]

BTfan,

Right, the stove. I guess they just let Angie's healthy, balanced meal burn. But never mind that, Kit probably fed the kid a bunch of crap at Disney Land anyway. The real issue is, by the time Bette and Tina made it out of bed and back to the kitchen, the whole place would have been up in flames. Or, maybe they had a real quickie.

[va999999]

the hugest WTF for me all throughout this show is bette and alice's relationship. it kills me how they refer back to their past fling almost every season and each time they contradict what they previously told us about them. i mean, really, couldn't ANYONE working on the show for once keep track of that?

in season 1 we find out that bette and alice are in the best friend stage when bette meets tina, then, in season 2 we learn that bette leaves alice for tina after that infamous opera visit they had. now in season 5 apparently bette's cheated on alice. i guess in season 6 they'll tell us that bette and alice were married before bette met tina (i wouldn't be surprised by now)

[Sue]

Great points everyone. I still that the first and ultimate WTF moment for me is the fact that Bette had an affair with someone right after Tina's miscarriage. I just can't see Bette doing that to the love of her life. The storyline leading up to that focused so much on how much the two of them love each other, and it just didn't gel with me. Also, Bette wouldn't have been so unemotional around Tina when she learned of the miscarriage. Nobody is that cold.

[AZ]

Lydia,
It would have made more sense(since Jodi is an artist) and been more poignant if Jodi's gift was to return the Kiki Smith print of "The Fawn" to Bette. Bette might have been hard pressed to refuse it and Jodi, too. More drama-rama.

[fantasmic]

Hey Lydia,

My personal WTF after watching the original stir-fry OMFG scene from episode 506 from the screener DVD this past weekend is why all of Tina's super-hot, REAL dirty talk was edited out of the final cut! You briefly mentioned it in your post back when the episode first aired and, IMHO, the original dialogue would've made it crystal-clear why afterwards 1) Bette practically burst out laughing at Jodie referring to herself as a "hot f*ck" and 2) Bette was so whipped, she was like a clingy puppy-dog, desperate to be around Tina.

Anyways, it was a pleasure reading your thoughts on season five and I'm looking forward to seeing how IC & co. tie up all these crazy loose ends in 2009.

[Sue]

Speaking of the dialog that was edited out, your post made me think to check YouTube and someone apparently put up a vid of that scene. Copyright violations not withstanding, it's great that we can see some of these things on there. Anyhow, I haven't had a chance to actually hear it yet but it looks as if someone found the copy with the original dialog of that scene....and like Lydia said it's way hotter. I'm not sure if it's legit or if someone dubbed it. I'll check it out and see.

[Sue]

Whoops nevermind, I just read the part of your post that said that scene was from the new DVD. Okay, I'm looking forward to seeing this version.

[do_not_download]

Sue - Close but no cigar? Search for "omfg orig" to see what the prior poster was talking about.

[Dutch/Juno]

I just have to chime in about "Stir Fry Sex" w/o the music as well as "Honey,Honey Sex" (their second encounter in that episode). The musical "blankets" applied in those scenes rate more than a "WTF?!". I think an--"WTFWYT,IC?HYLYFM?!!!" ("What the F Were You Thinking,IC? Have You Lost Your F-ing Mind?!!!") --applies here. And it's not just the missing dialogue; the loss of the sounds they make as they "act" out these scenes is beyond tragic! And, it got me thinking--- there are probably pages and pages of meaningful dialogue (and sounds!!)
buried under EZ's "thermals". Maybe, that's where a lot of the missing s/ls went!!

[btfan2]

Hey Dutch

I have thought about soooo many WTF's that I just don't have time to write them all. I mean every character, every story line(I use that phrase loosely), has so many that it just becomes to much. I am again leaning toward just skipping s6. After 5 seasons of this there is no hope on my part that quality will suddenly appear out of the abyss.

I am going through my JB/TiBette tlw withdrawl now and just can't make myself think about going through this again next year.

As much as I rag on this show, when its not around boy do I miss it. We really do as a group need something that reflects and validates our lives no matter how flawed.

I think just how difficult would this withdrawl be if tlw was "A" list, you would most likely have half the lezzbo population jumping out of windows, drinking themselves to death or filling up the rehab sites. Maybe we should be thankfull that tlw isn't all that -- how would we deal??

I really miss my JB shot - shit!!

btfan2

[Sue]

I'm sure, and I think Lydia mentioned it before, that the reason they dubbed over that scene is because you couldn't hear the dialog very well. Their voices were sometimes inaudible and it was difficult to make out what they were saying. But I agree, the scenes are way more powerful without the music because those actors do such a convincing job.

[Lydia Martin]

Hi everybody.

Hey Sue, I agree with you. They probably dubbed over the original in Stir Fry Sex because you really couldn't make out what our girls were saying.

I mean, the first version was definitely hotter. But I happened to check out the back and forth over at TWoP the other day about exactly what Tina and Bette were saying in the throes of passion, and the number of interpretations is kind of staggering.

Maybe the powers were trying to save us from ourselves. Lord knows we can obsess.

But yeah, both scenes are much, much hotter with original sound. Gotta give it up to Laurel Holloman for so going there. And to Jennifer for, well, for just being Jennifer. Though, certainly LuH seems a lot more fearless than her nipple-concealing scene partner.

[Sue]

LOL.."Stir Fry Sex", I love that. Somebody really should create an L-word board game, like L-word Trivial Pursuit, or even better a game were the players make up their own endings.

[FrenchLady]

Hi Lydia,

I just watched the "Stir Fry Sex scene". Burning hot! So different from the original. In a way, it sounds like an amateur video taped in someones bedroom. Even that it was the same scene; the music rated it from X to PG. There is one thing for sure, Now we know that we are missing the genuine emotion!

But when you said you watch a different
version. Was it exactly this one without music? If so, is that mean that there is a lot of other scenes that you watched without sound effect?

Sorry, I didn't have time to go over the WTFs, been to busy. ;-)

[FrenchLady]

Hi everbody,

Ok, I had time to gather some thought regarding the WTF. Well, it is more a questioning about something to go in the direction that Gwen-elle proposed.(If I understand correctly what she was asking)

I feel nervous to start a tread; since I’m not gay, it is hard for me to outline some behavior. I am going to walk on eggs, hope finding the write words for it. Cause I don’t want to insults anyone here. That is not the purpose of this posting. I dind’t say gay behavior cause my questioning do apply to any orientations. However, for this matter I will refer to Shane’s behavior.

Again, I’m not judging anyone, cause I’m not a judging person. I truly believe that any sexual orientations don’t require talking about their sexual activities to justify their orientation. A love relationship usually involved sex, gay or not. A lot of heterosexual are thinking that gay are obsessed with sex. No wonder that’s what the media tend to point out. Just look at the gay pride parade. They just project images of a minority of Transvestite. JB referred to it when she attended the parade in San Francisco. She said what she saw was love and family.

So, my question is this: why IC projects some sort of sex addict images, like Shane. It is actually possible for someone to have a sex addiction. But 2,000 different partners… You can live wealthy with that life style…Healthy. Hum? (That’s another issue). Someone can had sex that many times, but on the chart, if I’m not wrong it was 2,000 individuals. Wow.

IMHO, I think that IC doesn’t project the reality. And unfortunately, she don’t really do justice to the gay image that so many try so hard to defend. On the other hand, is it, maybe because she feels the pressure to put sex scenes, so she abuses a fearless actor to reach some expectations?

Anyway,If someone ask me to define gay, my answer would be: It’s a person who have a love connection with the same gender. (And what they do in their bedroom…it is none of my business).

Can someone tell me if I’m totally wrong here? Don’t worry I’m an open person.
And if by any chance I’m wrong, well I guess it’s never to late to learn something!

[Shelly]

I'm sorry, but I have to defend the music! Seriously, Fiest's "Honey Honey" was just about the most inspired backdrop to a love scene that the L Word has ever used. I am admittedly a Fiest fan, but this song is really one of her best, and felt so pure and intense to me in that particular scene.

Sometimes I feel like we get carried away with our love for these characters; I know that it quite honestly pains me to realize that I don't, actually, live in a world where Bette Porter exists. But, this is fiction--this is drama. I'm not sure if I'm saying this to board, or more to myself: do we really want to see "realism" to the extent that we profess? Do I want to see and hear it all? Like tasteful lingerie, scenes that leave a little to the imagination titillate me all the more. In fiction, as in life, it is sometimes what the characters don't say--or in the case of Bette Porter, don't reveal--that intrigues me.

And, honestly, I wish my love life had a soundtrack. Unfortunately, life is not art--but art is, when it moves me like the Feist scene does, the best of life.

Although, for the record, I was a little worried about the stove being on.

[fantasmic]

I'm with you, Shelly... I'm all about having a personal soundtrack to my life. I can't imagine my life without my iPod; the song I listen to while walking to the subway on the way to work totally sets the tone for the rest of my day.

So I agree that the Feist and Freezepop songs work perfectly for the TiBette encounters in 506 and 509, respectively. And the scenes are much better with the music than without, particularly the elevator scene. Stylistically, it was just mah-vah-lous... thanks Rose Troche, the DP, IC, or whoever decided on how to edit / shoot the transition from the Alice & Tasha scene to the TiBette one.

I even think that "Love and Affection" was a great choice for "Stir-Fry Sex"; my only quibble with the final version of that scene is, given the fact that they had to re-dub most of the dialogue anyways, they should've used more of the dirty talk from the original version.

I think IC should do one of those IFC "Anatomy of a Scene" segments for the Season 5 DVD...

[btfan2]

FrenchLady

I didn't find your post offensive at all no worries. I will say that there are people in every orientation that ARE sex addicts.

I also think that it may appear that gays are more into sex then other orientations. But; IMHO its all smoke and mirrors. We don't have the same rigid rules as the straight world and sex on the first date doesn't makes you loose or a ho.

We may rag on each other but; I don't know a soul that really judges others on their sex habits or even gives a dam. Not even Shane.

I take issue and I've seen others on the boards do the same with the constant "cheating". It's portrayed that we all cheat, lie and have no regard or respect for our friends or lovers.

This just isn't true. I think gay woman take our relationships seriously and friendships are our souls.

Many gays have problems with their famlies, hide on their jobs so their friends ARE their family.

I'm glad tlw exists and I guess IC has done her best, but; like many others at times I feel cheated, misrepresented and dumped on.

This show really could have been so much more...

As for the music I think the music has improved 100% over the past. The selections are better and now at least every song doesn't drown out the dialogue. Boy that used to bug me. So on that score(no pun intended) tlw has gotten beter (IMO).

I do agree also that IC doesn't project gay reality. I think that IC is so Farrrrr removed from the average gay woman and our reality that she doesn't even know that she's on the wrong page, but; goes blissfully along believing she's doing "us", a service.

Sorry I don't know any gay couple that makes out in restaurants, that NEVER gets heckled, harrassed or walks around holding hands and being as free and open as they are in tlw land. Everyone is out at their job and seems to have no fear for their safety.

Yeah my life is just like that (WTF)

btfan2

[Shelly]

I agree with you, btfan2, that the L Word does not present the standard reality for most lesbians, but I certainly don't think that the creators and writers at TLW were ever attempting to represent the entire lesbian population. I have heard, however, that the show does a very good job of presenting the reality of well-off, educated west Hollywood lesbians--however rare of a group they may be--and I think that's what they're trying to do. And, no offense, but I'm not sure we would be quite as enthralled with TLW if it was about the average, middle American lesbian. I can guarantee you that nobody would be tuning in for a lesbian drama about my life. Though, honestly, I have made out with my girlfriend in a restaurant and I hold hands with her. I am also out in all aspects of my life--including my job--and have, luckily, suffered no harassment. I know it's not the norm, but those lives exist. And, in defense of TLW, the show has done story lines about being "in the closet" in your life and at your job (Dana, Tasha, the Chart connections in S3, etc.). How can a hugely popular show that presents any reality of a large group of lesbians--regardless of how different they are from the average life--be anything but a service for the gay culture?

[01Xci_uf]

Hi, Lydia! I'm from OC and Laurel/Tina fans want to do something special for Laurel's birthday on May 23. The plan is to donate money for Laurel's charity that she has chosen which is called 'Doctors Without Borders'. The plan is to donate on her birthday but fans can actually donate whenever they can and whatever they can. I'm writing to you to see if it's possible if you can help us out by mentioning on your next TLW related article on what we are doing and providing the link for more people can see it. The site moderator has contact with Laurel so she will be aware that this is going on. Thank You. The link is..

http://www.firstgiving.com/laurelhollomanonline

ps: There are other plans as well that we are doing like setting up a site where all fans can write their own words to Laurel for her birthday and also doing a collage of Laurel pictures to have it sent to her mail address.

[AZ]

Not on your WTF topic but here are some pics of JB at the V to the 10th Anniversary celebration in New Orleans on 4/12/08. She's just flat out beautiful. She was doing the monologue in which the woman moans loudly during sex. She looks as if she's having a joyful experience, How a self-admittedly shy person could be so bold on stage is amazing. What a transformation from her everyday persona.

http://www.tibette.com/gallery/index.php?cat=8

[AZ]

Here's an amazing recounting of one poster's experience under the Red Tent at V to the 10th in NO. JB is an extraordinary person.
The poster is tipper63 and it's from the TWoP site. Scroll down the page to find it.

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showtopic=3136762&st=38685

[annabelle]

ok so i think i read through all the posts about all the wtf's...

but i still havent seen what has been driving me up a wall since the finale:

how in the world does a deaf artist... cough cough... jodi... get back at bette by creating AUDITORY (yes... visual... but most importantly AUDITORY) art???

did IC forget that jodi's character is DEAF??

is anyone else completely confused? its driving me nuts.

[Shelly]

I would say that, clearly, she had some help putting that one together. Or, maybe she's just that good.